Daytona Beach Tax Preparer Sentenced To Prison

Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Charlene Edwards Honeywell today sentenced Fane Dacosta (40, Daytona Beach) to 2 years and 4 months in federal prison for aiding in the preparation of false tax returns and failing to file his own tax returns.  Dacosta was also ordered to serve one year of supervision, following his incarceration, and to pay $656,084 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service. Dacosta was convicted by a federal jury on January 30, 2014. 

According to evidence presented at trial, Dacosta was the owner of a tax return business (“More Than Enaf Refund & Affordable Tax Services”) in Holly Hill, Florida. For the tax years 2006 through 2009, Dacosta prepared returns for individuals in which he falsified the amounts of deductions and tax credits owed to taxpayers, resulting in those taxpayers receiving undeserved tax refunds. In particular, Dacosta fraudulently claimed education credits for clients who never attended college, and he inflated itemized deductions. In response to the false returns that Dacosta prepared, the Internal Revenue Service issued more than $500,000 in undeserved refunds. In addition, Dacosta failed to file his personal tax returns in 2007, 2008, and 2009, despite earning over $100,000, $200,000, and $300,000 in each of those years, respectively.

This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation Division. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg.